And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13
Jesus called Matthew – a tax collector who likely was known for cheating his fellow Jews – to be one of his disciples. He spent time at Matthew’s house, hanging out with other tax collectors and people who were known for their sinful way of life. And when the religious leaders of his day challenged him about this, Jesus responded with a rebuke. He said he did not come to try and convince people who thought they were righteous that they needed forgiveness. No, he came to call those who knew they were separated from God and needed to be redeemed.
He told the religious leaders to spend some time considering what God meant when He said, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” This was a quote from the Old Testament prophet Hosea, who was commissioned by God to give His people message of imminent judgment and future restoration:
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:4-6
This message resonates with me, in part because I have spent moments living more like the religious leaders than I have like Jesus. I have taken God’s truth and attempted to render judgment upon others, though it is not my job to do so. This message also resonates with me because I have seen my brothers and sisters do the same.
Sacrifices and burnt offerings were central aspects of the Old Testament Law. The religious leaders would have staked their standing with God on how well they followed these commands. And yet, Jesus turned their world upside down with another truth from the Old Testament: that God values mercy and a vibrant relationship with Him more than He values outward obedience to His law.
Sadly, we can technically do the right things and still displease God. We can claim obedience to our Lord as we lash out at others in anger and frustration. When we do this, we are no different than the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.
God desires for us to show mercy to others. He desires for us to really know Him, and know His heart. He desires this so much that He actually says He does not desire our sacrifices or burnt offerings … He does not desire our technical obedience to His commands.
I think what Jesus is getting at is this: if we show mercy to others and invest time in our relationship with God, then when we obey God’s commands, we will do so from a pure heart. We will demonstrate that we care about what God cares about: His glory, and people who are created in His image.
Today, I ask you to join me in choosing to show mercy to others. Let’s be people of compassion, understanding and grace. This is what God desires from us. When we obey Him in this, obedience to Him in other matters will follow, and it will flow from a heart that mirrors His.
Dan Londeree 